Melzee tuell



O o in fnwknf NJTERS, PHOTO-L THOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D e waited 5mm @wat @emita MELZER TUELL', OF PENN YAN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, LEWIS D. YOUNG,

AND BENJAMIN F. FENNER, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Paten-t No. 101,789, dated April 12, 1870; antedated April 9, 1870.

IMPROVED FRUIT AND EXTENSION-LADDER The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MELZERTUELL, of Penn Yan, in the county of Yates and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ladders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, a'nd exact description of the construct-ion and operation of' the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of' this specification, in which- AFigure 1 is a side view;

Figure 2 is a side view, with ladder extended; y

Figure 3 shows auxiliary parts; and

Figure 4 is an under side view of the plat-form.

Theletters of reference refer to the same parts in each figure. l

The nature of my invention consists of the construction a-nd arrangement of parts as hereinafter described, so as to form a step-ladder, with a platform and projections for steadying the person standing on the platform, the ladder being also convertible. into an extension ladder.

To enable others skilled in the art to ynake and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its mode of construction and operation.

A is the lower section; it may be made any width or length required, and from the top round down it is made in the ordinary manner, and the side pieces extend above the top round, to hold the part C, and it thus constitutes a support for the operator while standing upon the platform; it also makes part of the folding joint, when the ladder is extended, as shown in fig. 2.

B is the upper section of the ladder, and is made of two side pieces and rounds, in the ordinary method.` The width must be outside, the same as the inside of the top of the lower section, so that the largest end of the side pieces may be put upon the top r'ound of the lower section, as represented in figs. 1 and 2. The upper round ot the lower section constitutes a pivot for the upper part to turn upon, so that the ladder may be folded or used as a step or fruit-ladder, as shown in tig. 1, or extended, as shown in iig. 2, and the ladder 'may be extended in a direct line by removing the parts C and D, and then put one of the sews through the side pieces at the top end o f the part A and the hole where the screw was taken out when the part D was removed.

C and D are auxiliary parts. They are made and represented separate from the ladder .in tig. 2; they are held together by a round similar to the rounds of the ladder. They are heldto the other parts of the ladder with screws, as .represented in fig. 1. Theiruse is to hold one end of the platform, and when they `are held firmly to the ladder, with the screws, they will hold the parts A and B at any angle, when used as aV step-ladder; and, when the ladder is used for picking fruit, the part B may be supported by the tree, in position, as represented by the dotted lines lin lig. 2; then these parts aid to support the picker, and lwill allow him to step up one step higher.

E is the platform ;-the under side is represented in lig. 4. lt is provided with a catch at one end, to hold lit to the round of the ladder; the other end may have a niortise and a hook, with a screw, or a series of holes and a pin to hold' the ladder from spreading, iereby preventing the lower ends ot' the ladder from moving apart when set on slippery places.

When the ladder is used as a step-ladder for indoor work, the plait-form may be placed on any of the rounds below the top ones, to make it a more convenient height, as represented by the dotted lines in liv. 1.

cThe platform and parts C and D may be readily -removed when the whole length of the ladder is rethe purpose set forth.

MELZER. TUELL. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN L. Hoy'r, CHARLES KETCHUM. 

